Guwahati: A senior Bodoland People’s Front (BPF) leader has claimed that reports that the party has sent its candidates in Assam to a foreign country over fears of being poached by the BJP are incorrect.
“The reports are not true,” said Kampa Borgoyary, the former deputy chief of the Bodoland Territorial Council and party’s spokesman.
“After nine months of electioneering, some of them wanted to go on a vacation. Some of them are in Sikkim and Goa,” he said, adding that they will be back in a few days.
“We have not shifted anyone anywhere,” Borgoyary claimed.
According to him, those who have gone on a short “vacation” include 10 MCLAs and four MLA candidates.
Borgoyary said senior party leaders including Hagrama Mohilary, Pramila Rani Brahma, Rihon Daimary and Chandan Brahma are still in the state.
Pramila Rani Brahma told EastMojo that she is still in Kokrajhar and was not aware of the whereabouts of others.
On Sunday, several media reports indicated that the BPF, a part of the Congress-led Mahajut, has shifted its candidates to a foreign country. The reports mentioned Singapore or Bhutan as likely destinations.
Both Bhutan and Singapore have strict COVID-19 travel restrictions in place.
Earlier, another Mahajut ally, the AIUDF moved its MLA candidates to a hotel in Jaipur. A congress MLA candidate was also among those who were flown to Jaipur.
A senior Congress leader from Assam also told EastMojo that the party is likely to move its remaining MLA candidates outside the state in coming days.
